Match Feed

Tim Taranto has done his chances of a Round 1 debut no harm, recording 17 disposals at 71 per cent efficiency, eight contested possessions and five tackles.

Q4 27:57

BEHINDGiants (Tim Taranto)

Q4 26:59

GOALKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q4 25:29

BEHINDKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q4 22:27

GOALKangaroos (Majak Daw)

Q4 21:55

The Giants have dominated contested possession 29 to 18 and overall disposals 83 to 52 this term, kicking 1.4.2 (35) to 0.2.0 (12) from a 13 to six advantage in inside 50s.

Q4 20:17

GOALGiants (Devon Smith)

Q4 18:54

SUPERGOALGiants (Nathan Wilson)

Q4 17:35

The Giants have outscored North Melbourne 1.4.1 (34) to 0.1.2 (8) from centre bounce clearances, and have outscored them overall from clearances 1.5.6 (45) to 0.3.3 (21).

Q4 16:15

BEHINDGiants (Phil Davis)

Q4 15:36

Jamie Macmillan is the leader on the ground for metres gained, his 17 disposals resulting in 597 metres gained for the Kangaroos. Heath Shaw's 26 disposals have resulted in a teamhigh 542 metres gained for the Giants.

Q4 14:39

GOALGiants (Devon Smith)

Q4 12:24

GOALKangaroos (Mitchell Hibberd)

Q4 11:56

BEHINDGiants (Devon Smith)

Q4 06:24

Toby Greene is the clear standout performer on the ground, recording matchhighs in disposals with 24, contested possessions with 16, score involvements with 10 and goals with five. He also has four clearances and two score assists.

Q4 06:11

GOALGiants (Toby Greene)

Q4 05:10

Jarrad Waite has been a great target up forward for the Kangaroos, recording 14 disposals, eight contested possessions (including four contested marks) and four goals.

Q4 04:53

GOALKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q4 01:55

GOALGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q4 00:00

Q4 is now underway.

Q3 32:33

A very efficient quarter by the Giants sees them turn an eight point deficit into a 26 point lead. Despite only having eight more disposals for the quarter, the Giants had a disposal efficiency of 80 per cent to the Kangaroos 65 per cent.

Q3 32:33

The Giants also only recorded one more inside 50 than the Kangaroos for the quarter, but generated 12 scoring shots from 14 entries compared to North Melbourne's six scoring shots from 13 entries, outscoring the Kangaroos 1.6.5.50 to 0.2.4.16 for the ter

Q3 31:23

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Q3 28:10

BEHINDKangaroos (Ben Cunnington)

Q3 26:54

BEHINDKangaroos (Rushed)

Q3 24:44

BEHINDKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q3 22:31

The run continues, 12 inside 50s for 12 scores and 1.6.5.50 as a result. 23 points have come from stoppage chains and 27 points have come via intercept chains.

Q3 21:13

GOALGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q3 19:43

GOALGiants (Devon Smith)

Q3 19:43

Remarkably, the Giants have 11 inside 50s this quarter for 11 scores, kicking 1.5.5.44, with just under nine minutes still remaining in the term.

Q3 18:07

BEHINDGiants (Rory Lobb)

Q3 16:11

BEHINDKangaroos (Rushed)

Q3 16:30

From centre bounces this term, the Giants have been particularly impressive, winning five centre bounce clearances to two, scoring 1.2.0.21 to 0.1.0.6 as a result.

Q3 14:53

The Giants scoring efficiency this quarter has come on the back of its work from stoppages. They lead clearances seven to two for the term and have kicked 1.2.2.23 to 0.1.0.6 from this score source for the term.

Q3 14:33

BEHINDGiants (Callan Ward)

Q3 13:36

BEHINDGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q3 12:24

GWS Giants InterchangeStephen Coniglio off due to an injury.

Q3 12:52

BEHINDGiants (Rushed)

Q3 11:35

GOALGiants (Jonathon Patton)

Q3 09:03

GOALKangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

Q3 08:59

GWS are using the ball almost exclusively by foot this quarter, recording 21 kicks and just six handballs. Their kicking efficiency is an impressive 81 per cent and they have scored from all five of their inside 50 entries, kicking 1.3.1.28.

Q3 08:48

GOALGiants (Callan Ward)

Q3 07:10

BEHINDGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q3 06:42

GOALGiants (Toby Greene)

Q3 03:07

GOALKangaroos (Ryan Clarke)

Q3 02:34

Giants stats in the third quarterfive disposals, four contested possessions, two Toby Greene centre bounce clearances and 1.1.0.15 to zero.

Q3 01:20

GOALGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q3 00:18

SUPERGOALGiants (Devon Smith)

Q3 00:00

Q3 is now underway.

Q2 30:45

Most key statistical areas are even at half time. Contested possessions are 85 apiece with GWS leading disposals by four and clearances by one. North Melbourne lead inside 50s 29 to 25, winning the second term 16 to eight in this area.

Q2 30:45

North Melbourne were cleaner by foot in the second term recording a kicking efficiency of 72 per cent to the Giants' 57 per cent. For the match, the Kangaroos lead in this area 69 per cent to 62 per cent.

Q2 30:35

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Q2 29:55

BEHINDGiants (Tom Scully)

Q2 28:13

BEHINDKangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

Q2 25:23

BEHINDGiants (Jonathon Patton)

Q2 23:50

Shaun Higgins is having an influential second term, with seven disposals at 86 per cent efficiency, five contested possessions and a score assist. He is averaging a teamhigh 23 disposals per game through the JLT Community Series.

Q2 20:15

North Melbourne's ball use by foot has been a highlight this quarter, kicking at an efficiency of 73 per cent compared to the Giants' 58 per cent.

Q2 19:26

BEHINDKangaroos (Rushed)

Q2 19:51

BEHINDGiants (Jonathon Patton)

Q2 17:36

BEHINDGiants (Jeremy Cameron)

Q2 15:53

The Kangaroos have been efficient going forward, generating six scoring shots from eight inside 50 entries this quarter, resulting in 3.3.21. All three goals have been launched via intercept possessions.

Q2 14:58

GOALKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q2 11:57

North Melbourne has owned the football in the first 10 minutes with 41 disposals an a kicking efficiency of 65 per cent to the Giants 26 disposals and a 58 per cent kicking efficiency.

Q2 07:17

GOALKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q2 05:06

BEHINDKangaroos (Rushed)

Q2 04:23

BEHINDKangaroos (Jamie Macmillan)

Q2 03:21

Toby Greene responds in the battle of the small forwards. He has been superb, with 12 disposals, five contested possessions and three goals already.

Q2 03:34

GOALGiants (Toby Greene)

Q2 02:38

BEHINDGiants (Matthew Kennedy)

Q2 01:54

Kayne Turner has been a livewire up forward with seven disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, three inside 50s, one score assist and three goals already.

Q2 01:40

GOALKangaroos (Kayne Turner)

Q2 00:17

BEHINDKangaroos (Todd Goldstein)

Q2 00:00

Q2 is now underway.

Q1 32:34

Heath Shaw had a prolific opening term with 12 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, five marks, three inside 50s and five intercept possessions.

Q1 32:34

It's a very even and highly contested game thus far, with the contested possession count 45 apiece at the first change. GWS leads clearances 13 to nine, yet the Kangaroos have outscored the Giants 2.1.13 to 1.1.7 from this source.

Q1 31:24

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Q1 30:45

GOALKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

Q1 28:57

BEHINDKangaroos (Majak Daw)

Q1 27:54

GWS are making North Melbourne pay from turnovers, kicking 3.1.19 to 0.2.2 from this score source in the opening term.

Q1 27:49

GWS Giants InterchangeMatt Buntine replaces Aidan Corr and is possibly out for the game.

Q1 27:44

GOALGiants (Stephen Coniglio)

Q1 24:04

GOALGiants (Toby Greene)

Q1 24:04

Toby Greene is continuing his best and fairest form from 2016, with 10 disposals, four contested possessions and two goals already in the opening term.

Q1 22:00

North Melbourne leads the contested possession count 35 to 28, including a 22 to 15 lead in this area for postclearance contested possessions.

Q1 19:29

BEHINDGiants (Toby Greene)

Q1 19:00

North Melbourne's physical pressure has been excellent so far, leading the tackle count 17 to nine so far in the match.

Q1 18:49

BEHINDKangaroos (Lindsay Thomas)

Q1 17:35

GWS Giants InterchangeSteve Johnson off due to an injury.

Q1 14:30

In the last six minutes, North Melbourne has won the contested possession count 12 to three and inside 50s four to zero, outscoring the Giants 2.2.14 to 0.0.0 over the time period.

Q1 14:15

BEHINDKangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

Q1 13:00

GOALKangaroos (Kayne Turner)

Q1 11:46

BEHINDKangaroos (Rushed)

Q1 10:49

GOALKangaroos (Kayne Turner)

Q1 10:49

GWS recorded the first nine inside 50s of the match, but North Melbourne kicked a goal from its first entry of the match. Both sides have kicked 1.0.6 from stoppage chains.

Q1 07:39

GOALGiants (Toby Greene)

Q1 06:58

BEHINDGiants (Tim Taranto)

Q1 05:22

GWS is dominating territory early, enjoying 87 per cent time in forward half, recording the first six inside 50s of the match.

Q1 03:46

GOALGiants (Callan Ward)

Q1 00:00

Q1 is now underway.

Q0 00:00

Conversely, North Melbourne has picked a side at both ends of the experience spectrum with 13 players having played over 100 games of senior AFL football, but a further six who have played fewer than 20 games, with four uncapped players from that six.

Q0 00:00

Both sides have won the territory battle in their first two preseason encounters, with GWS averaging 14 more inside 50s than its opposition, ranked second, and the Kangaroos averaging nine more inside 50s than its opposition, ranked fourth.

Q0 00:00

GWS has 14 players playing that have played between 50 and 100 senior AFL games, with a further five having played over 100. Only Tim Taranto has yet to taste senior football, with Matthew Kennedy the only other Giant to have played fewer than 20 games.

Q0 00:00

GWS has the highest kickto-handball ratio of any side in the pre-season, averaging 1.39 kicks for every handball (up from 1.29 last season). Conversely, the Kangaroos are averaging 1.01 kicks per handball, ranked 15th (down from 1.24 last season).

Related

GREATER Western Sydney will be thankful it has two weeks to recover for round one after three key players were injured in the 38-point JLT Community Series win over North Melbourne on Friday night.

Forward Steve Johnson (concussion) and key defender Aidan Corr (hand) went down in the opening quarter, while star midfielder Stephen Coniglio (ankle) left the field midway through the third term and also finished the game on the bench.

Despite their injury worries, the Giants were too good for North in the second half to win 2.15.17 (125) to 0.12.15 (87) at UNSW Canberra Oval.

Coniglio was the leading possession winner on the ground with 21 when he was forced off, after his left leg twisted awkwardly under his body while being tackled in the centre square by North onballer Andrew Swallow.

"It's always disappointing (to get injuries) in your last game, you try and get through unscathed as well as play some good footy," he said after the match.

"We expect Steve (Johnson) to be OK but he's pretty knocked out at the moment, Aidan Corr isn't looking the greatest with his hand, and (Stephen) Coniglio with the ankle.

"We'll get them looked at Monday, it's not ideal but that's life."

Jeremy Cameron faces a nervous wait from the Match Review Panel after he was reported for striking Scott Thompson in the final quarter, while Toby Greene could also be in a hot water after a tangle with Sam Wright.

Reigning club champion Greene had a night out for the home side with five goals and 26 disposals, while Callan Ward and Dylan Shiel were prolific through the midfield, and Heath Shaw racked up a game-high 33 touches across half-back in his usual role as the Giants' set up man.

Athletic forward Jarrad Waite booted five goals and dragged in 10 marks to be a potent target for the Roos, with Kayne Turner also dangerous at ground level with three of his own, and Swallow and captain Jack Ziebell typically tough at the contest for most of the night.

WHAT WE LEARNEDGreater Western Sydney: The Giants' medical staff is going to be busy over the next fortnight. Johnson (concussion) won't be an issue for round one, but Coniglio (ankle) and Corr (hand) might need some intense treatment to get up for the clash against Adelaide on the road.

North Melbourne: The Roos need a fit Ben Brown back in the forward 50. North used Majak Daw and Brayden Pruess as tall forwards against GWS, along with star ruckman Todd Goldstein, but all three struggled playing as forwards, and failed to impact the contest. Brown (knee) has had a limited pre-season but should get some game time in the VFL before round one, to press his claims for a place in Brad Scott's 22.

NEW FACESGreater Western Sydney: Draftee Tim Taranto started on fire with five early possessions and set up the game's second goal with some quick hands under pressure. Did his chances of a round one debut no harm with another solid showing, in fact he's just about locked up his spot on the plane to Adelaide.

North Melbourne: He's slightly built, but Jy Simpkin showed why the Kangaroos took him with the first selection and 12th overall at last year's NAB AFL draft with some quality moments playing forward, which included a classy goal in the third term.